A recent survey conducted by Preply, a language tutoring platform, revealed that a significant number of young Americans aged 18 to 26 are intrigued by the idea of relocating abroad for a variety of reasons, including access to social welfare programs, exposure to new cultures, and a desire to escape gun violence. The survey, which polled 3,000 participants in October, asked respondents to rate, on a scale of 1 to 5, how strongly they envision their future outside the U.S. The average rating for all respondents was 3.10, indicating a moderate level of inclination toward living abroad.
Interestingly, certain cities such as Portland, Oregon; Memphis, Tennessee; and Kansas City, Missouri, stood out as having a higher propensity for their young residents to seriously consider moving overseas, as indicated by ratings of 4 or higher. On the other hand, cities like Nashville, Pittsburgh, and Salt Lake City showed less interest among their youth in living abroad.
Moreover, the survey found that the desire to live abroad seems to intensify as young Americans grow older. When asked about potential destinations, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, and Singapore emerged as the top choices. Additionally, the survey revealed that a significant portion of those contemplating an international move are committed to the idea, with 34% indicating a willingness to live outside the U.S. indefinitely and 66% expressing a readiness to start a family abroad.